(Dec. 29, 2016) The annual Penguin Swim takes place on New Year’s Day every year with hundreds of people dashing into the ocean off 91st Street to benefit Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.
“The community involvement is overwhelming, whether you are a volunteer, visitor, local, business or organization,” AGH Event Coordinator Joy Stokes said. “All ages are coming together to ring in the new year, have fun and make memories for a great cause. The 2017 Penguin Swim promises to be filled with fun and excitement.”
There will also be carnival games, girls dressed as mermaids, costume contests, live entertainment, Lollipop the Clown and ice art from Erik Cantine.
In 2016, a record-breaking 1,035 people on 60 teams plunged into the surf for the swim and raised more than $106,000 for the hospital. There were also 46 sponsors, Stokes said.
Organizers expect more than 1,000 people to take the plunge, Stokes said.
“The Penguin Swim is one of our largest fundraisers in support of Atlantic General Hospital’s mission to create a coordinated care delivery system that will provide access to quality care, personalized service and education to improve individual and community health,” Stokes said. “All proceeds from this event benefit the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation.”
Besides knowing that it’s all for a good cause, swimmers will have other incentives and each registered participant will receive an official 2017 Penguin Swim T-shirt.
Penguins who raise anywhere from $26 to $99 have the choice of a bag or swell bottle while those who collect $100 to $129 will take home an official Penguin Swim long-sleeve shirt. Swimmers who collect $250 to $499 will be given a Penguin Swim beach towel, and anyone raising $500 or more will be able to choose one prize from each level, Stokes said.
The top three donors from each category, which includes individuals and adults, teams, businesses, community groups and 18 and under, will be awarded trophies and prizes. There will be a costume contest in five categories and special recognition will be given to the oldest and youngest penguins.
For the fourth year, participants who will be out of town on New Year’s Day can engage in a “virtual swim.” These penguins still raise money and register online, but must take a photo of their dip wherever they are and post it to social media sites. The photos will be shared at the event through a live feed. To show out-of-town photos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, use the hashtag #OCPenguinSwim.
Before swimmers take the plunge, the Bull on the Beach team will parade down the beach in honor of being “the Emperor Penguin” and a legacy sponsor who has participated for 23 consecutive years.
Registration and check-in for the 2017 Penguin Swim starts at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1, at the Princess Royale Hotel on 91st Street, with the swim taking place at 1 p.m. The cost is $25 per swimmer.
Early registration and advance check-in will be available on Saturday, Dec. 31, from 2-4 p.m. at the hotel.
An award ceremony will follow the swim inside the Princess Royale atrium and there will be dollar carnival games including frog hop, hoop shoot, football toss, bottle ring toss and cover the spot. In addition, there will be girls dressed as mermaids in the pool, Lollipop the Clown will offer face painting, there will be a cash bar and apparel sales in addition to a selfie station.
To sign up for the 23rd annual Penguin Swim or to make a donation, visit aghpenguinswim.org or text PENGUIN to 51555. The event can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/penguinswim or call the hospital foundation office with questions at 410-641-9671.
Organizers are always looking for sponsors and checks can be made out to the AGH Foundation and mailed to: 9733 Healthway Drive Berlin, Maryland, 21811.
“Any individuals, business or organizations can still sponsor and help make the event a great success,” Stokes said. “The Penguin Swim is one of our largest fundraisers in support of Atlantic General Hospital.”
For more information on event sponsorship opportunities, call 410-641-9671 or email penguinswim@atlanticgeneral.org.
Proceeds from the event support strategic plans started by Atlantic General Hospital and back its mission to improve individual and community health.
“The 2016 Penguin Swim raised more than $106,000, which will enable the Atlantic General Hospital and Health System to strengthen programs, enhance services and medical technologies, attract the best clinical staff, fund renovation projects and maintain a healing environment in the coming year,” Stokes said.
The hospital has been providing health care to residents of Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties in Maryland as well as Sussex County, Delaware, since May 1993. Since its inception, the Penguin Swim has raised more than $1 million for the hospital.
“The community involvement is overwhelming, whether you are a volunteer, visitor, local, business or organization,” AGH Event Coordinator Joy Stokes said. “All ages are coming together to ring in the new year, have fun and make memories for a great cause. The 2017 Penguin Swim promises to be filled with fun and excitement.”
There will also be carnival games, girls dressed as mermaids, costume contests, live entertainment, Lollipop the Clown and ice art from Erik Cantine.
In 2016, a record-breaking 1,035 people on 60 teams plunged into the surf for the swim and raised more than $106,000 for the hospital. There were also 46 sponsors, Stokes said.
Organizers expect more than 1,000 people to take the plunge, Stokes said.
“The Penguin Swim is one of our largest fundraisers in support of Atlantic General Hospital’s mission to create a coordinated care delivery system that will provide access to quality care, personalized service and education to improve individual and community health,” Stokes said. “All proceeds from this event benefit the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation.”
Besides knowing that it’s all for a good cause, swimmers will have other incentives and each registered participant will receive an official 2017 Penguin Swim T-shirt.
Penguins who raise anywhere from $26 to $99 have the choice of a bag or swell bottle while those who collect $100 to $129 will take home an official Penguin Swim long-sleeve shirt. Swimmers who collect $250 to $499 will be given a Penguin Swim beach towel, and anyone raising $500 or more will be able to choose one prize from each level, Stokes said.
The top three donors from each category, which includes individuals and adults, teams, businesses, community groups and 18 and under, will be awarded trophies and prizes. There will be a costume contest in five categories and special recognition will be given to the oldest and youngest penguins.
For the fourth year, participants who will be out of town on New Year’s Day can engage in a “virtual swim.” These penguins still raise money and register online, but must take a photo of their dip wherever they are and post it to social media sites. The photos will be shared at the event through a live feed. To show out-of-town photos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, use the hashtag #OCPenguinSwim.
Before swimmers take the plunge, the Bull on the Beach team will parade down the beach in honor of being “the Emperor Penguin” and a legacy sponsor who has participated for 23 consecutive years.
Registration and check-in for the 2017 Penguin Swim starts at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1, at the Princess Royale Hotel on 91st Street, with the swim taking place at 1 p.m. The cost is $25 per swimmer.
Early registration and advance check-in will be available on Saturday, Dec. 31, from 2-4 p.m. at the hotel.
An award ceremony will follow the swim inside the Princess Royale atrium and there will be dollar carnival games including frog hop, hoop shoot, football toss, bottle ring toss and cover the spot. In addition, there will be girls dressed as mermaids in the pool, Lollipop the Clown will offer face painting, there will be a cash bar and apparel sales in addition to a selfie station.
To sign up for the 23rd annual Penguin Swim or to make a donation, visit aghpenguinswim.org or text PENGUIN to 51555. The event can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/penguinswim or call the hospital foundation office with questions at 410-641-9671.
Organizers are always looking for sponsors and checks can be made out to the AGH Foundation and mailed to: 9733 Healthway Drive Berlin, Maryland, 21811.
“Any individuals, business or organizations can still sponsor and help make the event a great success,” Stokes said. “The Penguin Swim is one of our largest fundraisers in support of Atlantic General Hospital.”
For more information on event sponsorship opportunities, call 410-641-9671 or email penguinswim@atlanticgeneral.org.
Proceeds from the event support strategic plans started by Atlantic General Hospital and back its mission to improve individual and community health.
“The 2016 Penguin Swim raised more than $106,000, which will enable the Atlantic General Hospital and Health System to strengthen programs, enhance services and medical technologies, attract the best clinical staff, fund renovation projects and maintain a healing environment in the coming year,” Stokes said.
The hospital has been providing health care to residents of Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties in Maryland as well as Sussex County, Delaware, since May 1993. Since its inception, the Penguin Swim has raised more than $1 million for the hospital.